You’re reading one of our “Beginner Driver’s Guide” articles. Need to practice for your upcoming exam? Take our free sample driving test -- no registration required! ✨ Losing your driver’s license can be a major hassle as well as a potential security risk. Whether you were out with friends at a restaurant or hiking in the woods with your dog, realizing that you’ve lost your license can give you a sinking feeling as all the “what-if’s” run through your mind. But don’t despair! Losing your driver’s license is inconvenient but it has happened to many people. While losing your driver’s license is nothing to panic over, it is important to take proactive steps as soon as possible. The most important reason for this is to prevent someone from using your license fraudulently. This can be in the form of identity theft or from someone falsely claiming to be you while driving. By reporting that you’ve lost your license to the proper authorities you’ll create a paper trail that can help you down the road if any of these issues arise. Before you get too worried about the consequences of losing your license we’ve created a step-by-step guide and infographic to help you learn what you need to do.
The first thing to do is to try and remember where you may have lost your license so you can retrace your steps in the hope of finding it again. Take a moment to think about the last time you saw your license. From that moment until now, where have you been? It can be helpful to write down each of the places you’ve visited in sequential order from the last time you saw your license to the moment you realized it was missing. Another important thing to consider is how the license went missing. Is there a hole in your pocket? Did it fall out of an open bag or purse? Maybe someone asked to check your license but they forgot to give it back? If you can figure out how you lost your license then this can quickly narrow down the list of places you’ll need to check to try and recover your license. If your license just went missing in the last few minutes or hours and you don’t have a strong idea of how it went missing then try to retrace your movements in a reverse chronological order starting with the most recent place you visited. If outdoors, keep your eyes on the ground and visually scan the area directly in front of you. If you recently visited an establishment like a restaurant or a bank, ask an employee to see if anybody has turned in a driver’s license. When all else fails and you can’t seem to find your lost license, here are the next steps to take.
By now you’ve taken the time to try and remember where you may have lost your license and carefully retraced your steps. If you still can’t find your license then it’s time to take action by taking the steps necessary to get a replacement. There are 2 options when it comes to replacing your license: online or in-person. The online option is ideal as you can provide all the necessary information that the DMV needs from the comfort of your own home. Another advantage is that you don’t need to wait for an appointment and you can access the online system 24/7. If you prefer to request a replacement in-person it’s important to make a reservation as soon as possible. You still may be able to walk-in during the DMV’s business hours but there is a good chance you will be waiting for an extended period of time and there are no guarantees that they will be able to help you as most DMVs work on a first-come, first-serve basis. To help guide you through both the online and in-person options, we’ve outlined the steps you need to take to get your replacement drivers license:
